Asian Dan

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Here is the third round of “Classic House Tracks According to the Word of Todd” by Todd Edwards. These next few posts will have a theme of tracks by the classic house duo Masters At Work who heavily influenced the Todd Edwards’ sound. Here are some words from Todd himself.
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Masters At Work created an epic catalog of orginal productions and remixes beginning in the early nineties. I idolized them, I really did. The only club I religiously went to was the Sound Factory Bar on Wednsday nights to hear Little Louie Vega spin and he NEVER disappoints!

The perfect combination of keyboard playing and drum programming. They are both masters of their craft. Little Louie always reconstructed the songs they remixed. He would always use very jazzy musical chords while keeping the vocals in the song the same. It was a great lesson for a young and new producer like myself, “you can make a song sound completely different just by using different chords that still work with the melody, BRILLIANT!”
If that weren’t enough, there was Kenny Dope Gonzalez’ drum programming. To this day there is no drum programmer that I have more respect and admiration for. It was Kenny Dope’s drumming that inspired my muscial style.

When I heard MAW’s remix of St Etienne’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, I was blown away! The swing Kenny Dope put on his snares and hi hats… I tried to immitate… yeah, not so good. However, others started to take note of my drum programming and the shuffling boardering on sloppy swing that my tracks had. Who would have thought that poor imitation would help me develop a sound? My track “So Real” on The Messenger ep was based on this remix.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202010/Only%20Love%20Can%20Break%20Your%20Heart%20(Masters%20At%20Work%20Dub%20Remix).mp3]
St. Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Masters At Work Remix)

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Here is the 2nd installment in ” Classic House Tracks According to the Word of Todd” by the one and only Todd Edwards. This week it is a track by the Chicago-House DJ/Producer pioneer, Lil’ Louis.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Todd%20Edwards/lil%20louis%20-Club%20Lonely.mp3]
Lil’ Louis – Club Lonely

Lil’ Louis is an extremely innovative producer. His track “French Kiss” was a very deep house track which slowly went down in tempo until the whole track came to a complete stop, while a woman simultaneously is moaning to a point of climax. It sounds even better than it reads. Even though that was a ground breaking track, it is his other brilliant work that inspired me.

The track is called “Club Lonely” It starts out with a deep bassline and synth chords. Then another layer of synth chords come in complimenting the first. Then, a saxaphone pattern comes in on top of that. And if that weren’t enough, a beautiful song on top of that. But the peak of this song is the chorus. The harmony that was created for the chorus is one that inspired me like no other. I definitely learned to layer music from this song. If you listen to my Sunshine Brothers work, you will here some of that influence, especially “Like A Fire”.

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This post is the first of many weekly guest posts from the one and only Todd Edwards. He agreed to grace us with some of his House music wisdom with quintessential tracks of the canon of House music as well as tracks that heavily influenced and mean a lot to Todd himself. First off is a track by Todd Terry, “Slam Jam” that samples my fav Ramjam song “Black Betty”. Also Todd Edwards offers up his remix of the legendary Dusseldorf quartet, Kraftwerk’s “Numbers”.

“Todd Terry’s productions were the first that I studied in depth. He lead the way in sample-based house track productions from the late 80’s, and from then on was known as “Todd The God”. (That’s catchy) “Slam Jam” had Todd’s signature drums running under a simple bassline which sounded more like a sample of a sound than an actual keyboard synth, rawww!!! The track is filled with catchy samples running through it. It was always a great feeling when I stumbled across a record where Mr. Terry got his samples from. Todd’s beats and use of samples gave him his signature sound. When you put on a Todd Terry record, you know it’s Todd Terry. So, that’s what I set out to do. He inspired me to create a sound that would be reconginzable to anyone who played my tracks. I owe him a big thanks for being the first of my house music inspirations. Of course, he should know this by now because I told him every chance I saw him at the clubs in the 90’s.”

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Todd%20Edwards/Todd%20Terry%20-%20Slam%20Jam.mp3]
Todd Terry – Slam Jam

Bonus:
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Aug%202010/Numbers%20(Todd%20Edwards%20Remix).mp3]
Kraftwerk – Numbers (Todd Edwards Remix)

Photo by Lucien Alperstein

The Aussie duo, Collarbones have been making some moves on the web these past weeks, making their rounds in the blogosphere and getting mentioned on Pitchfork’s Forkcast. Travis and Marcus were kind enough to put together an 11 min mix, a deconstructed pastiche of some of their favorite songs at the moment. Imagine combing through the AM/FM frequency that comprises of the formula that equates to the duo’s sonic experiment. Check out a Q&A introduction into the musical masterminds behind, Collarbones.

Download Collarbones “Beaman Park” EP over at collarbones.bandcamp.com

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/July%202010/Collarbones%20-%20Brown%20Sugar%20Mix%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Download: Asian Dan Presents Collarbones “Brown Sugar” Mix

Asian Dan Q&A: Collarbones

1. Who is Collarbones? How would you describe your music?
Collarbones is a front for drug dealing and prostitution. We have fabricated a backstory about being an Australian electronic music duo in order to cover up our cocaine affiliations. Gotta move those bricks. We’re a “trans-state” collaboration because we have to hustle drugs back and forth. Travis Cook’s real name is Reginald Perineum and Marcus Whale’s real name is Hugh Manatee. You have to keep people guessing when you’re a fugitive, you know how it is. We would describe our music as browave with eurodance influences. We are what “sincerity” feels like.

2. What was your first musical memory?
Travis: I remember dancing to Lithium by Nirvana in my bib. I barely learnt how to walk. There’s a video of it somewhere.

Marcus: I don’t know. My latest musical memory is watching Simo Soo and a room of 20 people flailing and screaming to really overdriven beats.

3. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?
Werner Herzog, Soul Glo, sidechain compression, Cole Mohr, eggplant, the way Jaden Smith dances, Andre Leon Talley, Bobb Trimble, Ciara.
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Nick Catchdubs has made his rounds in the blogosphere and in the IRL music scene. From co-founding the one and only, Fool’s Gold Records to throwing the famed Flashing Lights party in NYC and everything in between, he is a man of many musical hats. Nick was kind enough to throw together this mix of some his favorite tunes at the moment as well as answering a few questions about his and Fool’s Gold Records musical mission. So sit back and enjoy Nick Catchdubs’ “Pink Lemonade” Mix (Ha! I just got it.).

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/May%202010/Nick%20Catchdubs%20-%20Asian%20Dan%20Presents%20Pink%20Lemonade%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Download: Asian Dan Presents Nick Catchdubs “Pink Lemonade” Mix

Asian Dan Q&A: Nick Catchdubs

1. Who is Nick Catchdubs and what is that you do? Why do you do what you do?

I guess the simple answer is that I am a DJ, musician and record label co-owner. I have worn a lot of other hats (designer, editor, writer) but not so much these days because I devote all my free time to the label and my own music. I have been DJing professionally for the past 7 years and have been running Fool’s Gold with A-Trak for almost 3 of those. As far as WHY I do what I do… I’ve just been obsessed with music and art and media and pop culture ever since I was a very little kid, this didn’t happen by accident. I would still be making my own stuff and thinking about different ways to put it out into the world it even if it wasn’t a “career,” you know?

2. You are co-pilot of the famed Fool’s Gold Records, how has the trip been so far since you guys took off? What is Fool’s Gold Recs main mission?

It’s been fun and satisfying to launch artists’ careers, and help our friends’ music make an impact in the world at large. The mission has always been the same: to share the world that we are a part of creatively – the people around us, our friends and peers, new talents we discover – with official releases that could really stand the test of time. To put out records that could transcend blogs (no offense) and individual scenes and genres, to build up the brand so that it really stands for something unique and high quality. If I humbly say so myself…
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The mysterious 18 year old Welsh producer Koreless crafted this 30 min minimix for the blog and answers a few questions that offer a slight peak into his musical mind. Be on the look out for new music and remixes from Koreless in the near future. Follow @koreless on Twitter.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/May%202010/Koreless%20-%20Asian%20Dan%20Presents%20%22The%20Cranny%20Cast%22%20Mix%20-%20asianmandan.com.mp3]
Asian Dan Presents Koreless “The Cranny Cast” Mix

Asian Dan Q&A: Koreless

1. Who is koreless? How would you describe your music?

My tunes are a blend of everything I’m feeling, on a musical tip or not. As cliché as it sounds, my whole life revolves around music. Everything that happens around me ends up going directly into my tunes.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Early jungle is a huge influence, I was never there, but I wish I was. There’s an energy of tunes from that era, early 90’s, that’s just not comparable to anything else. I can’t quite pin point it, its the same with 2 step. It gives me a floating feeling, I was walking down Sauchiehall street, with “tom and jerry – on and on” playing through, and it was just amazing, everything sort of married together. Thats what I get from music, the right tune at the right time, just puts things into perspective. I work backwards from this when I make tunes, see what’s missing at that moment, and fill the gap.

3. What is the Glasgow electronic music scene like versus the rest of the UK? With acts like Rustie and Hudson Mohawke coming out of Glasgow it must feel like an exciting time.

Yeah Glasgow is a lively place to be just now, Theres a load of decent nights, Lucky me run ballers social club, pushing the beat side of things, Fortified and Numbers always have cool bookings as well, Kode 9, Floating Points, Zed bias to name a few… Theres mungos hi fi who run the reggae and dub nights, they booked congo natty not long ago whitch was absoloutly amazing!
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Fare Soldi fell upon my ears when I first heard their super italo/acid tune “Tuto Tutti Sempre Subito” – a tune I still bump often. The duo were gracious enough to answer a few questions as well as hooks us up with a mix they made for Scion. Check it.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/May%202010/fare%20soldi%20scion%20mix/Fare%20Soldi%20-%20Scion%20me%20what%20you%20got.mp3]
Download: Fare Soldi “Scion: Me What You Got”

1. Who is Fare Soldi? How would you describe your music?

Fare Soldi are two charming 30 y.o. with “the most and the worst” beautiful taste for everything you can find in life.
Often this is an incredible styling advantage, and just sometimes it could bring troubles. For example when putting ketchup over chocolate cakes. This strange blend makes what we call “Frico Disco”, a kind of sweaty heavy greasy disco music.

2. What was your first musical memory?

It’s quite a secret, but we met each other when we were 10 years old and started doing a cover band of the Blues Brothers. We did gigs dressed with big jackets from our parents, jumping and dancing and performing in playback. After the Milli Vanilli scandal in 1990, we felt we were the next music superstars to fall, so we changed direction. And today we can proudly say that at least our grammies are safe.

3. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

A lot of stuff, definitely. But what made us to decide to be musicians most of any other thing, was people with moustaches.
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GRUMS is a UK producer that has been making his rounds in the blogosphere for the past year or so with his fantastic productions and remixes. From the likes of Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga, and Passion Pit – Grum has touched them all. Check out his new singe “Cant’ Shake this Feeling” and some live dates here in North America. He will be in NYC tonight at Santos with The Twelves. I will be giving away guestlist spots via Twitter for the GRUM x The Twelves party in LA May 8, so be on the look out on the Asian Dan Twitter.

Can’t Shake This Feeling (Album Version)byHeartbeatsheartbeats

Asian Dan Q&A: GRUM

1. Who is GRUM? How would you describe your music?

GRUM is all your wildest dreams come true. Whatever they may be. Probably. My music is probably best described as big, camp, sexy dance music. I saw it described as Power Disco earlier, not sure about that one.

2. What was your first musical memory?

I remember hearing Human League’s Don’t You Want Me on some local radio station and recording it to a tape when I was like 7. I listened to it over and over on repeat for days, loved it.

3. What are your influences musical or otherwise?

I’m mostly a music guy; I have appreciation for art and stuff like that but really I’m just obsessed/influenced by sound. So that means all the artists which have really inspired me…I guess Daft Punk, Giorgio Moroder, and all those random obscure amazing 80s disco records that pop up on blogs. I’m really enjoying Barry Gibb’s production for various 80’s artists right now so I’m sure I’m absorbing lots of those influences.

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Greetings Blogosphere. As you all know I have been raving about Penguin Prison for the past few months for his ability to craft such polished and catchy pop tunes with substance and conviction. April 8 marks Penguin Prison’s first full band live debut – a new incarnation of these pop songs in a live and raw environment at NYC’s Mercury Lounge. I am quite excited to see what a live band will do to these polished tunes. Chris Glover aka the ringmaster behind Penguin Prison was kind enough to answer a few questions about his musical endeavors.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Penguin%20Prison%20-%20The%20Worse%20It%20Gets.mp3]
Penguin Prison – The Worse It Gets

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/April%202010/Golden%20Silvers%20-%20True%20Romance%20(Penguin%20Prison%20Remix).mp3]
Golden Silvers – True Romance (Penguin Prison Remix)

Asian Dan Q&A: Penguin Prison

1. Who is Penguin Prison? How would you describe your music.

Penguin prison is me. I’m penguin prison.
I would describe my music as pop music by someone who cares.

2. What was your first musical memory?

I remember having a Michael Jackson doll and I rememeber my parents having the thriller record and playing it on a fisher price record player. I remember taking the Michael Jackson doll around with me. One of my earliest foggiest memories is of me holding the Michael Jackson doll and being at NBC studios behind the scenes because my best friend’s mom was a producer at NBC.

3. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

I am influenced by people I know mainly. For some reason it helps me to actually know people who make music and see them doing it firsthand. It makes me feel like I can do what they are doing.

4. Last year I feel marked a new era of pop within the indie scene – an amalgamation of electronic, pop, rock with acts such as Grizzly Bear, Miike Snow, Passion Pit and Phoenix all leading the way in this “Intelligent Pop” music scene. I feel like you are definitely going down a similar path. Thoughts on this? And what sort of vision/perception are you trying to put out of yourself through your music?

Intelligent pop is a good term probably. I am trying to make pop music but goof pop music. There is a difference between the backstreet boys and Michael jackson. Both are labeled pop but everyone can tell the difference.

Hopefully the vision of what I am trying to put out there will slowly be revealed as time goes by.

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I’ve been a fan of this Australian duo, Gypsy & The Cat since they hit the blogosphere about a year ago. A perfect blend of that Oceanian musical sensibility that takes in elements of 60s carefree pop, 70s FM radio pop, 80s synth pop and everything else that is catchy in between. I hear a lot of Fleetwood Mac in their music, as I do in a lot of Australian bands (Empire of the Sun, Van She) but there is also a touch of 90s pop. Overall a carefree pop sound that is perfect for the upcoming summer sunshine. Lionel and Xavier took some time to answer a few questions to get you all acquainted with their sound – a brief peak into their musical minds. Also checkout a playlist the two of them compiled of some of their favorite tunes.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Gypsy%20&%20The%20Cat/Unknown%20Album/Jona%20Vark.mp3]
Gypsy & The Cat – Jona Vark

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Gypsy%20&%20The%20Cat/Unknown%20Album/’Til%20Tomorrow.mp3]
Gypsy & The Cat – ‘Til Tomorrow

Asian Dan Q&A: Gypsy & The Cat:

1. Who is Gypsy & The Cat? How would you describe your music?

Xavier: Gypsy is indiscriminate, whatever anyone feels, its not for us to decide. Sonically I’d like to think that the music yields a title of melodic electronic soft rock, but once you inhale the breath of the album, things change. Who knows maybe hardcore? I’ll let you decide!

Lionel: Gypsy & The Cat is basically 2 friends who just want to make good music and share it with the world!!! it’s a blend of different genres and influences but ultimately lies within a rock/ folk electronic landscape.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Xavier: Jeff Buckley is a standout influence, even though its so hard to pinpoint because we are just so amazed by many artists, Jeff tells great honest stories in such a musical way. Every chord, lyric, vocal melody just fits like a jigsaw: a picture is born.

Lionel: Musical: Bach, if it wasn’t for Bach, music wouldn’t be where it is today!! Michael Jackson (the king of pop), Led Zeppelin (the kings of rock), Coldplay (a band who makes me feel the most, and whose music i connect with on so many levels), Justice (the magicians of production), ABBA (little can compare to genius of their songwriting and amazing wall of sound), non-musical: Bruce Lee, Stanley Kubrick (both influences i’ve grown up with)

3. What was your first musical memory?

Xavier: Probably birth!
Lionel: Crying on the way to my first piano lesson. I was 7
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